From January, Germany no longer wants to purchase Russian oil, but at the same time will continue to operate the PCK refinery in Schwedt. In addition to Poland, Kazakhstan is a possible replacement. But the Kazakh oil would have to pass through Russian soil in a Russian pipeline.
Germany may soon be able to source Kazakh oil through Russia’s Druzhba pipeline. The Kazakh government has asked the Russian pipeline monopoly Transneft for permission, reports the Reuters news agency, citing two industry insiders. Specifically, it is about the approval for the transit of 20,000 tons of oil from the Kazakh oil field Karachaganak in January.
Kazakhstan’s Energy Ministry declined to comment on the information. Oilfield operator Karachaganak Petroleum Operating has not yet responded to a request.
The Kazakh oil is intended for the Schwedt refinery. The federal government had declared about a week ago that the failed Russian deliveries should be replaced from January. Smaller quantities have already been agreed and he is optimistic that larger quantities will come, said Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Michael Kellner. He also spoke to Kazakh government officials about it.
The Druzhba pipeline runs from Russia via Poland to Schwedt. It has a transport capacity of 2.5 million barrels of oil per day. In order to compensate for the loss of Russian deliveries, Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck signed a declaration of intent with the Polish government at the beginning of December: Crude oil is also to be routed to the PCK refinery via the pipeline system in the port of Gdansk. Concrete steps have not yet been negotiated.
The Schwedt refinery in north-east Brandenburg is connected to the Druzhba pipeline and has so far been supplied with Russian oil from the state-owned company Rosneft. In addition, Rosneft holds the majority in Schwedt, although the refinery is currently under German trusteeship. As of January, Germany will no longer purchase Russian oil as a reaction to the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine.
